Renters: Save Money on Doing Laundry

If you rent a house or apartment, chances are you spend quite a bit of time at the local laundromat washing your clothes. Most units don’t have their own washing machines, so you probably have to drag your bags of clothes back and forth each week. And in addition to all the time it takes up, using the laundromat can also cost quite a bit of money, depending on how big your household is. Laundry gets expensive, and in these tough economic times you are probably looking for ways to save money on doing laundry, right? I have made some changes to my laundry routine which really saves me some serious cash over the course of a year of doing laundry. Hopefully some of these tips can help you save money on doing laundry, too!

Save Money on Doing Laundry

Only do full loads. Yes, I know most people already know this, but make sure you stick to it. Spending money on a half-full washing machine load is not only wasteful of water, but of your hard-earned cash, too.

Use the big machines. Laundromats have the regular-sized machines and they have the gigantic ones. Use the gigantic ones when you can. They cost more to run a load thru but you can fit more clothes in them, saving you from doing multiple loads in a smaller machine – which saves you money over the long run.

Skip the drying. If you have access to outdoor space, and it’s not against the law where you live, consider packing up your freshly-washed wet clothes and bringing them home to dry. Line drying is free, uses no fossil fuels, and helps your clothes last longer.

Wash your clothes in cold. Speaking of clothes lasting longer, washing in cold water helps too. And having clothes last longer saves you from having new clothes too often, saving you money.

Watch for discount days. Many laundromats have discount days or times, which they publicize to try to get people in during their slower times. Take advantage of the savings they offer if you can manage it.

Save Money on Laundry Supplies

Use less detergent. The laundry detergent companies tell you to use way more per load than you actually need to use. Cut that amount in half and your clothes will come out just as clean while also saving you a substantial amount of money on detergent.

Make your own detergent. Want to save even more? Make your own laundry detergent and spend just pennies per load. Making it yourself usually results in a better product that costs a fraction of the store-bought brands do.

Skip the dryer sheets & fabric softeners. These are completely unnecessary, wasteful, and expensive. Try a few loads without either, you won’t even miss them.

Search for coupons on detergent. If you don’t want to make your own detergent, at least try to get the best price on what you do buy. While I recommend an eco-friendly brand like Seventh Generation if you buy detergent, coupons can easily be found for lower-priced detergents online and in circulars.

While everyone knows that having to do laundry at a laundromat can be a pain, there is no reason you should also be emptying your wallet when doing so. By using some of these tips, you can easily save money on doing laundry – and maybe use the savings to buy a washing machine of your own. Do you have tips that help you save money on doing laundry? Please weigh in and let us know!

When I didn’t have a washer/dryer within reach, I noticed certain things I felt I needed to wash but didn’t have a full load then I washed them in the tub (I.e jeans, lingerie, socks) and let them drip dry in shower. Saved me a LOT of $$ and time! Also, to dry jeans more quickly, I would take my towel and wrap them up to pull some more moisture out. This way I also had one extra use for the towel before washing it too!

November 13, 2012

Maia

I wound up buying a portable mini-washer and centrifugal dryer for my studio apartment after parting with my own full-size washer and dryer in my condo. They both plug into a regular wall outlet and work like a charm. I figure they will save $ over time as I was spending about $20 per month on laundry (plus hauling it up and down four flights of stairs in my apartment building). Now I do it in the comfort of my own bathroom. I haven’t noticed my electric bill go up much either. Maybe a couple bucks.

November 13, 2012

Lisa

Handwashing in a bathtub or sink is a great option for those who don’t have tons of laundry. Buy a new bathroom plunger and use it (only) as a laundry agitator. Once they’re rinsed instead of wringing them by hand you can step into the tub with clean feet and walk on them to remove excess water. Easy breezy!

We live in a trailer full time and invested in a Splendide 2000 washer/dryer combo.
We vented the dryer and this machine works just as well as my full size Bosch washer and dryer in my old home.

Also, if you add 1/8 cup of baking soda to the wash it acts as a detergent booster and softener all in one. I line dry when the weather is good, and the clothes are just as fluffy as if they had come out of the dryer.